On 3 November 2026, Ukraine Appeal joined representatives of Ukrainian Voice UK, researchers, charities, and community organisations to discuss the future of displaced Ukrainians in the United Kingdom, sharing perspectives on integration, support needs, and long-term community development.
On 3 November 2026, Ukraine Appeal joined discussions on the future of displaced Ukrainians in the United Kingdom alongside representatives of Ukrainian Voice UK, researchers, charities, and community organisations. The meeting focused on one of the most significant questions facing our community today: what happens to people who have spent years rebuilding their lives in the UK under temporary immigration schemes?
Recent announcements from the Home Office introduced new refugee sponsorship routes that provide an initial five-year period of permission to stay, with a pathway towards settlement. While these developments are a positive step for future refugee groups, they have also brought renewed attention to the long-term status of Ukrainians who have already spent more than four years building their lives in the UK.
Research conducted by the University of Birmingham and submitted to UK Parliament.
Research conducted by the University of Birmingham and submitted to Parliament provides important insight into the situation facing Ukrainian refugees. A survey of 5,454 displaced Ukrainians in the UK found that 76.6% would like to remain in the UK even when it is safe to return to Ukraine, while 82% do not believe Ukraine will be safe immediately after the war ends. The research also found that 87.5% of respondents do not see an accessible immigration pathway leading to permanent residence.
Behind these figures are real people and families. Many have spent years integrating into British society through employment, education, business ownership, volunteering, and active participation in local communities. Children have grown up in British schools, formed friendships, and begun planning their futures here. At the same time, many families continue to live with uncertainty because their immigration status remains temporary.
The discussion also highlighted an important dimension that is sometimes overlooked. For many people, returning to Ukraine is not simply a question of waiting for the war to end. Some come from territories that remain under Russian occupation. Others have lost their homes, communities, or livelihoods. Many carry the lasting trauma of losing family members, friends, and neighbours.
Research presented to Parliament notes that a significant proportion of Ukraine's housing stock has been destroyed, meaning that many displaced people have no home to return to. For some, the emotional impact of bereavement and loss is equally significant. Returning to places associated with destroyed homes, occupied communities, or the deaths of loved ones may not be a realistic option, even if hostilities eventually cease.
At Ukraine Appeal, we believe that this conversation must be guided by the principles of fairness, dignity, and humanity. We fully support Ukraine's recovery and recognise the importance of maintaining strong connections with our homeland. At the same time, we believe that people who were forced to flee war should be able to make informed decisions about their own futures.
For some, the future will include returning to Ukraine when conditions allow. For others, particularly those whose homes have been destroyed, whose communities remain occupied, or whose losses make return impossible, being required to relocate again after five, six, or more years in the UK would not represent a new beginning. It would amount to another forced displacement, and for some families, a third or even fourth displacement within a single generation.
The evidence presented suggests that greater stability benefits not only displaced Ukrainians but both countries. Secure and accessible routes to long-term status would allow people to continue contributing through their skills, education, businesses, and community leadership while maintaining strong social, cultural, and economic ties with Ukraine. Such connections can play an important role in Ukraine's long-term recovery and reconstruction.
As a member of Ukrainian Voice UK, Ukraine Appeal welcomes continued dialogue with policymakers, researchers, and community organisations to ensure that the voices of displaced Ukrainians are heard. We support consideration of voluntary, affordable humanitarian pathways that recognise the years people have already lived lawfully in the UK and provide families with the certainty they need to plan for the future. This reflects recommendations presented by researchers, including the creation of accessible pathways to settlement and recognition of time already spent in the UK under Ukrainian visa schemes.
Ultimately, this is not only an immigration issue. It is a human one. People who have experienced war, displacement, and loss deserve the opportunity to build stable lives, support their families, and look towards the future with confidence, whether that future lies in Ukraine, the United Kingdom, or in the enduring connections between the two countries.
Home Office policy guidance on refugee sponsorship routes
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/policy-guidance-refugee-sponsorship-routes
University of Birmingham research submitted to the UK Parliament
https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/168978/pdf/
